Into the deep: Bold berry lips and dramatic nails

BEAUTY trends come and go. But one that stalks the autumn/winter catwalk shows year in, year out is berry shades. Bold lips and dramatic nails with a classy, ladylike finish never go out of fashion and this season is no different.

"Lips are strong and confident," says MAC Senior Artist Caroline Donnelly. "The colour is a sensual blood red and ranges from crimson to oxblood.

"There's no right or wrong when it comes to the texture of the look, which seems to sit comfortably at either end of the spectrum, whether that's a cool matte or gorgeously glossy."

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The colour is a sensual blood red and ranges from crimson to oxblood. There's no right or wrong when it comes to the texture of the look

Caroline Donnelly, MAC Senior Artist

Application is key - you won't get away with just painting lips straight from the bullet. "The only hard-and-fast rule is that the lip must be well done," says Caroline.

"There can be no half-hearted attempt. If it has a perfect edge, it will look flawless. If you use a contrasting liner, that will provide the perfect contrast and if lips have a blurred, softened edge - as in Marni's catwalk show - they should be colour-blocked with another shade of red or wine."

When it comes to wearing a dark pout, the secret to a flawless finish is starting with a good base. "Exfoliate your lips first with a hot, damp towel so that you start with a great surface, then follow with a little bit of lip balm," says Revlon expert Gucci Westman.

"Then apply a bit of lip liner to outline the lips and use either a lip stain or long-wear lip colour. Finish with gloss, if that's the look you're going for, or leave as it is - it's all about layering."

Getting the rest of your look right is important, as the line between vamp and tramp can be a difficult one to walk. Gucci says, "When wearing opulent colours, the secret is to keep the skin very sheer, luminous and fresh looking.

"Don't use a lot of powder or foundation when creating your base. Instead, try to make it all about the nails and lips, leaving the skin super fresh and natural. The contrast is important."

Don't leave yourself looking too gaunt, though. "While the complexion to accompany this lip is pared back, by adding a little stain from the same lipstick or lip colour to the cheeks you can give this look just the right amount of romanticism," says Caroline.

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Nails need an equal amount of attention to keep them looking glamorous rather than grungey. "Prep, prep, prep!" says Revlon nail expert Jenny Longworth.

"I can't stress enough the importance of a good base, which makes the world of difference to the longevity of your enamel. Start by gently buffing the nail and then using a cotton pad soaked in remover to ensure you have an oil-free, polish-free base.

"Base coat is essential - not only to anchor your polish in place but also to prevent deep colour pigments leeching into your nail and lingering long after you've moved on to another shade.

Finish with a top coat, running it along the edge of the nail as well as the length of it. This will help prevent chipping - and reapplying every two to three days will extend the life of your mani impressively."

express